UK startup unveils high-speed ramjet artillery round
A British defense startup has unveiled a new ramjet-powered artillery round designed to deliver long-range precision effects in future combat environments.
Tiberius Aerospace, founded in 2022 and rooted in Silicon Valley practices, introduced its flagship product—Sceptre (TRBM 155HG)—at the Future Artillery conference in London, running May 20–22.
The company describes the Sceptre as a “revolutionary” 155mm extended-range, liquid-fuelled, precision-guided artillery munition.
According to the company, Sceptre is capable of reaching Mach 3.5 and altitudes exceeding 65,000 feet, placing it outside most electronic warfare interference zones. It is designed to operate effectively in contested electromagnetic environments, with a circular error probability (CEP) under 5 meters, compared to over 100 meters for conventional rounds.
Tiberius says the new round is compatible with existing NATO-standard 155mm howitzer platforms, allowing immediate integration without the need for major modifications. The munition reportedly offers a range of up to 150 kilometers, depending on the payload, which is capped at 5.2 kilograms.
In a statement, Tiberius Aerospace CEO Chad Steelberg said, “Our mission is to deliver next-generation weapon systems of outstanding capability with precision, scale and efficiency. The public launch of Sceptre today, the first of our Ramjet munitions, meets this goal and fills a critical capability gap by delivering long-range precision-guided effects in a high-quality, cost-effective package.”
Steelberg added that Tiberius is focused on building “a strategic leap in defence—empowering the UK, the US and their allies with unmatched agility, precision and rock-solid resilience.”
The company highlights its liquid-propellant engine system as a key feature. It uses a just-in-time, multi-fuel approach compatible with diesel, JP-4, and JP-8, which improves storage safety and extends shelf life beyond 20 years.
Tiberius also notes that Sceptre’s AI-guided flight system is built for use in degraded or GPS-denied environments. It can self-correct using inertial measurements and onboard GPS, and allows for in-flight data exchange between munitions to refine targeting.
The company says its modular architecture supports rapid hardware and software upgrades, while the open API allows integration with existing and third-party fire control platforms.
Tiberius Aerospace describes the Sceptre as a “10X solution”—offering extended reach, high precision, and operational efficiency with minimal collateral effects, in response to shifting global defense needs.
